ROCKFORD — Rock Valley College faced the brink of elimination against the College of DuPage in a battle of nationally ranked teams in the Region IV championship softball game Saturday.

RVC lost the first game of the finals to DuPage 8-0 in the double-elimination tournament, and trailed 7-6 going into the bottom of the seventh in the if-necessary game. But the Golden Eagles rallied to win the title, 8-7, and earned their second straight trip to the NJCAA Division III national tournament.

RVC (38-9), ranked fourth in the nation, came back from a one-run deficit with a leadoff double by Katie Meyer before an RBI hit by Kaytee Keefe tie the game and an error brought in the winning run as the Golden Eagles defeat fifth-ranked DuPage.

Monroe said the Golden Eagles’ second national tournament bid is just as sweet as the first one.

“You have different kids year in and year out getting the opportunity to experience playing at the national level,” Monroe said. “You’re playing the best level of competition that you can and each year is unique and are just as sweet.”

Rock Valley College will travel to Rochester, Minnesota, for the national championship May 15-17. The Golden Eagles finished sixth last year.